We spent a great weekend at Young Life's SharpTop Cove this weekend with leadership committee members from all over Alabama & Georgia. It was a combination of quality time with family and friends, informational meetings and inspiring worship.
I came home more in love with my family, more in awe of my God and challenged to live a life that matters for eternity. It would be nice to spend every weekend getting so filled up!
One of the 'talks' John Vicary gave really challenged me. He recounted the story of Legion from Matthew 5, pointing out the response when Jesus asked the possessed man his name. He did not answer with his given name, but instead by what had overtaken him.
John used this to parallel the issues of identity that plague many people. He pointed out that by the time most adolescents reach high school they think of themselves not by name, but by label.
Instead of, "I am Sally," the world has taught our self esteem to reply with labels.
I am athlete.
I am inadequate.
I am ADHD.
I am abandoned.
I am overweight.
I am worthless.
I am addict.
As I think about my children, I don't want their dynamic, multi-dimensional selves reduced to a stereotype or label. Frankly, it extends beyond adolescence. I don't want that for adults either. As I thought about how rampant this way of thinking is in our society...where every social website asks us to define ourselves in a profile limited to a few lines...it made me sad.
I started pondering where these defining words come from and the effects our words have on others. As mothers on our children, wives to our husbands, as friends, as neighbors, as employees, employers, customers....How are we using our words to build identity into people?
Do the people in my life have their identity positively impacted by their encounters with me? I pray the Lord will guide me into authentic interactions and use my life to help replace those negative and destructive messages with positive and true ones.
There are oodles of Scriptures about who we are in Christ. I want to be a mouthpiece for reminding people in my sphere of influence of their worth. I don't want to be sappy, cheesy or fake, instead I want to speak words that are true and uplifting. Sometimes sarcasm and/or criticism are far easier to muster. I pray God will help me see more people the way he does.
Not only is it a right and worthwhile ambition, Proverbs point out that it often brings another reward.
"The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed, those who help others are helped. Proverbs 11:25"
In case you need reminding tonight...you are NOT defined by your sin or the sins others have committed against you. You have a Creator. You have a name. You have a place in this world. There is a plan just for you. You are loved.
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